Often described as the pursuit of perfection, Dressage is the ultimate expression of Horse and Athlete working in harmony. The emotional intensity and attention to detail is awe-inspiring, as is the determination and tenacity which drives the Para Dressage athletes in their quest for excellence.

2020 FEI Dressage facts and figures

2020 FEI Para Dressage facts and figures

Monthly Breakdown of Events & Cancellations

Major Events 2020

FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2019/2020, Las Vegas (USA)

In 2020, the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic for the first time since its inception.

This event, which generally takes place during the spring in the Northern Hemisphere was one of the first major events to be cancelled. All the qualifiers had taken place and athletes were ready to go fight it out for the title, but it was just not meant to be. The global concerns about the spread of the virus and the travel restrictions imposed by the US Government made the much-awaited Jumping and Dressage Finals the first in a series of major events to be cancelled.

This means that the defending champion for the past three editions in FEI Dressage remains Germany’s Isabell Werth.

Postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games to 2021

On 24 March, the announcement was made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games would be postponed to 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This decision, which was taken for the safety of everyone, nonetheless came with a lot of complications for our sport. Not only were athletes disappointed, but pushing everything back one year meant reviewing all the qualification procedures that go hand in hand with the participation in the Games. To do so, the FEI created discipline specific task forces. You can read all about the various task forces put in place and the decisions taken in our dedicated Covid-19 section. 

FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season 2020

Wellington kicked-off the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season just before the global lockdowns due to the pandemic began. USA took the win of this first leg, followed by Canada and Denmark. Next, this series would have taken – Compiègne – Aachen- Rotterdam and finally Falsterbo, but with all the safety concerns and travel restrictions due to Covid-19 all events had to be cancelled, consequently leading to a cancellation of the series in 2020.

Youth Championships

Having the possibility to showcase talent at this age is very important, just as it is to get a first feel for championship ambiance and pressure, both at individual and team level.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 impacted the regional Championships for youth, depriving future generations to compete at the Eurasian Championships in Moscow and the North American Championships in Travers City. The next generation of European athletes were spared, with the FEI Dressage European Youth Championships in Pilisjászfalu able to go ahead.

FEI Dressage European Youth Championships Pilisjászfalu, (HUN)

Originally set to be held in Strzegom (POL), Hartbury (GBR) and Pilisjászfalu (HUN), it turned out to be only Pilisjászfalu who would host these championships in all categories over three weeks, again, a result of the pandemic.

The event kick-started with the Children and Juniors category, where Germany clearly dominated the field, taking home all championship titles and 10 out of 15 podium places. The Germans also left no room at the top of the podium in the Ponies category with Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel (GER) and Zinq Nasdaq FH winning both individual titles and the German team taking home gold.

Reduced just to three, the Dutch proved to have the strongest Young Riders, winning team gold and they did not disappoint at individual level either, with Daphne Van Peperstraten and Marten Luiten alternatively winning gold in the individual competition and the Freestyle to Music. Germany was breathing down their neck each time but ultimately not able to dethrone them.

The Under 25 category saw a healthy mix of winners among Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. The top score produced by Jeanine Nieuwenhuis and TC Athene brought the Dutch to team gold, while the next day Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER) and FBW Sunfire pipped the individual title, and the Freestyle to Music went to Denmark’s Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen and Foco Loco W.

Ponies Team Podium

Ponies Individual Podium

Ponies Freestyle to Music Podium

Children Team Podium

Children Individual Podium

Junior Team Podium

Juniors Individual Podium

Juniors Freestyle to Music Podium

Young Riders Team Podium

Young Riders Individual Podium

Young Riders Freestyle to Music Podium

Under 25 Team Podium

Under 25 Grand Prix Podium

Under 25 Freestyle to Music Podium

Young Horses

Experience and showcasing talent is equally important for horses as it is for athletes. This year in Verden (NED), the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses was set to provide the perfect platform for horses, aged five to seven, to demonstrate their skills and reveal their potential as future stars of the international circuit.

Sadly here too, the laureates of 2020 remained unrevealed as it was not possible to see the championship take place and we can only hope that next year we will be able to witness the action and get a glimpse of the potential that rests in the future of FEI Dressage.